Happy New Year Still?

Yes it still is! We all in ecommerce have so much to be grateful for. We are still here with the world at our finger tips. Ten to Fifteen years ago none of us would have had that opportunity. So should we complain when sales are slow? When Ebay rolls out changes? Selling Venues raise fees?

I was at the gym this week my favorite “my time” for an hour. It’s very spiritual to me. I zone out and reflect on life and leave refreshed. I was on the treadmill doing my 15 minute walk and reading. (yes I multi task at the gym, can’t stop that!) I’m reading “Come Spring” by Ben Ames Williams (1944) an old tattered book that someone was going to throw out. It looked interesting but far from sellable condition. I thought I’d give it one more life, all taped together. Gym folks must think I’m crazy carry this tattered taped mess around. It’s about a family from Boston who moved to way up Penobscot Bay to settle in the wilderness of Maine. (love Maine & history so had to read) The county was in its youth late 1700’s. Obstacles everywhere, Indians, Animals oh my!

My point is they were so thankful for their hard work, the satisfaction they had as they achieved their goals. It does restore your soul. Are we thankful for what we have now? You too can build and change in this New Year. Look back to where you’ve come in your online selling venture from ten years ago. In just last year how much you have learned. In one year social media has taken over a new frontier in our lives.

Last week I joined Janelle Elms OSI Rock Stars to become better at what I do and have the luxury of a mentor who tells the truth and finds the right answers to assist us. It will take me years to learn all the information she shares.

Follow me Backstage to Success at OSI Rock Stars

If you’re upset with Ebay’s new Spring 2010 changes embrace them to make them work for you. Read and learn from all the information right before us on the web. John Colderice Lawson has a great comparison article with screen shots, for those who seeing is better than reading.

http://3rdpoblogs.com/colderice/

You can make an educated decision fit for you or you can learn from a mistaken decision and alter it. You are in control of your destiny! Aren’t we thankful!!

Oh and by the way I am accomplishing listing more of my inventory to get it moving out. It’s like Christmas every time I open a new bin of goodies to list.

See ya all back here for the saga of “DRS of Our Lives”.

Suzanne / mymomsbooks

My New IDs

I know through Christmas I told a little about starting a couple new eBay IDs so I thought I would 'introduce' them to my friends here from OBS. First, I've always be obsessed with Christmas. I love it! If I had my choice, I would start decorating my house the day after Thanksgiving (refuse to overlook Thanksgiving! by starting Christmas earlier!) and leave them up until January 30th. So I've always thought it would be neat to have an eBay store that was all Christmas all year round!

As my main business, Kat's Kloset, has evolved and I've been narrowing down the niche and focusing just on specific products, I needed someplace to liquidate all the 'other' stuff I just couldn't bring myself to give away.

So those are the 2 thought trains that led me to open not one but TWO new eBay IDs. not sure how busy they will stay or if I'll keep them 'forever' but for now it's been fun.

ID #1 is Kat's Kloset Christmas. Klick on the name to visit the items I have for sale there now. I purchased several Hallmark ornaments this year during the 75% off sales after Christmas and I have a couple of Rubbermaid tubs still waiting for me to list that are almost all Christmas so more coming! I also bought small Christmas trees in pink & Purple from Wal-mart's Christmas but sold out of those right away!

ID #2 is Kat's Kloset 2 and is for my 'liquidation' stuff I find left over here or just can't resist at the few thrift shops I still allow myself to visit once in a while. Currently I have lots of Martha Stewart Living magazines in there and a few other things. Just Klick the name to check out those items.

My Interview With Griff of Ebay Radio

Griff was not always "ebay radio" or even an ebay employee. I had a great time interviewing him in early January about his career selling antiques.

One World One Heart

It's back! I almost forgot about it, but it's back!!!

Last year I won this adorable little blue monster that I have sitting on my desk. I also found a ton of blogs that I now follow and when I get some extra money some of this wonderful artists are going to be hearing from me - because I would love to own some of their one-of-a-kind pieces!!!

Anyway, it ends on the 15th and if you want to actually give something away - you can sign up until the 8th.

I don't have a craft item to give, but I am seriously considering trying to come up with something!

What fun!!!!

And...since you are probably wondering what OWOH is.....read below!

What is One World One Heart? This is from the official blog:

WHAT IS ONE WORLD ONE HEART?
I created this event in 2007. The original idea behind this giveaway event was to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. It closes the gap of the blog community and enables us to interact, discover new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way. 2007 had roughly 85-90 participants and many connections were made because of it......friendships that are still going strong.We had a strong showing the first year for sure, and then in 2008 we had just about tripled that number. In 2009 there were 911 participants, to say I was amazed is an understatement. 28 countries were represented in the 2009 event as well.This is more than wanting to win something.......that is only the means.......in the end it's about finding kindred spirits. Someone who may be fairly new to blogging, not sure how to navigate, find others and have others find them....Some are long time bloggers and in some cases well known in the blogging community. Whatever the case it brings all of them together.

How do I regester "Jimmy the Junk Man" as a business in Ohio?

Jimmy is done! He has taken the last insult from his job. Let me explain...

This is a man who has missed 4 days of work in 8 years. He gets one of the highest wages in the place for a housekeeper. Today, he was shoved around from one job to another, sometimes BEFORE he was able to complete the last job. As a result, he was wrote up! 3 write ups and your out the door.

Jimmy has two years to go before he's fully vested in his investment plan. MTR is having financial difficulties, like so many other businesses.Several other of the older employees have quit, because they are overloading them with lots of other chores, and nit picking. It SEEMS as if MTR is trying to get rid of their oldest employees, doesn't it?

He's decided to quit and get his $9,000 he has in that account now. The bad part is, we are loosing our home (we rent). We have to store our property, which we are doing, thanks to Jimmy's sister-in-law. We still have no place to live.  MTR has cut him to part time, we now have to find some sort of efficiency apartment. I have looked and looked to no avail.

The good news is we have a plan. It involves Jimmy quitting and getting his money. We need a piece of property, about 1 acre, and a used trailer. Jimmy is well know in our area as a Junk Man". And, very well respected as a worker, as in odd jobs, hauling, cleaning up, mowing grass, lawn work, laying cement, inside work, etc.

Why Jimmy and I believe this will work...

Us together...

• Jimmy and I work very well together.
• We have confidence in ourselves and each other.
• We are determined to reach our goals and live our dreams.
• We think alike, yet septate. 
• Respect for each other's opinion. 

Jimmy...

• Jimmy's reputation. 
• Jimmy knows people who knows people.
• Jimmy knows junk, and how to profit from it.
• Jimmy knows how to turn a profit.
• He is very good at bartering; which could come in really handy now days. 

Then there's me...

• I can run the business end.
• I know how to advertise, both online and off.
• I know collectibles, and know how to listen to learn more.
• I have contacts and very good friends online. 

So help me here, folks. I'm reaching out to you. I'll be needing info along with guidance  

through this process. I will probably be using the computers at the library for a while. 

Please, please tweet, re-tweet; use all the social net working at your disposal. 

I need answers, and the internet holds most of them. 

All I can offer you in return is the fact that you did a good deed for us. I have a blog, and I could also host your answers. I could advertise for you, or help in some way to make your life better.

My first question is: How do I register "Jimmy the Junk Man" as a business in Ohio?

Your support means a lot to us. Thank you for reading this. You may email me at:

marshellrussell@yahoo.com

Snail mail: Marshell Russell

815 Dresden Ave.

East Liverpool Ohio 43920

This address will forward to where ever we go. 

Purple Hyacinth Original Oil

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

I'm trying to post an auction daily and blog each day as well. This has been one of my new year's resolution. So far, so good...This is today's auction. Please click on it and Watch it, if you can! Thanks...

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My friend, Tere, just gave me this lovely hyacinth plant for my birhtday. I placed it in a weathered, old copper pot and she looks lovely and smells wonderful! I couldn't resist, I had to paint her! This is painted around the edges and doesn't really need a frame, although it would look even lovlier with one!

Damar varnished and certificate of authenticity is always provided!

Dimension: 5x7 gallery wrap canvas

Media: Oils

Please click here for my ebay auction and more information about Purple Hyacinth Original Oil painting

Maria Soto Robbins

Miami, Fl

msr107@gmail.com

http://artbymsr.blogspot.com

Royal Poinciana at the Beach Landscape

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

Many of us are pretty tired of this cold weather, even those of us down here in south Florida! So, think of a warm, sunny, beach...

Another in a series of Royal Poincianas. This impressionistic painting was done in oils with palette knives and heavy textured impasto and it shows a traditional beach landscape with a beautiful royal poinciana in bloom.

Varnished to protect it from dust and ensure longevity.

Dimension: 5x7" canvas

Media:Oils

Please click here to see ebay auction for Royal Poinciana at Beach Landscape

Maria Soto Robbins
Miami, Fl
msr107@gmail.com

Why Wasn`t I Born in The Southern Part of the U.S.A.

The title of my Blog entry tells it all..

I very much dislike the Cold and Snowy New England winters.

Each cold morning I wake up to hear the furnace running I think, why couldn`t my parents have lived in Florida or New Mexico or Arizona anywhere warm, when I was born ??

I really don`t like shivering and I certainly don`t like being Cold from the tip of my nose all the way down to my toes !

Even as a child I was NOT one of those kids outside when the "white stuff " starting falling sledding down the neighborhood hills for hours.

Nor was I one of them building a snowman or snow fort to hide behind having snowball throwing wars with the rest of the neighborhood.

I was perfectly content staying in my room either listening to my staticky Transistor radio or playing my records or just reading the latest Bobbsey Twins book.

All the neighborhood kids were outside getting all wet and cold including my sisters and brother while I was nice and warm and dry inside.

Then learning how to drive in the snow WOW not fun at all.

But of course I had to do it if I wanted to go anywhere.

When I became a Mom and my boys wanted to go play in the snow, yes, I brought them to the nearest safe sledding place and enjoyed watching them having fun.

But I was NOT having fun being COLD.

To this day, I can honestly say, if I could Hibernate like a Bear from Nov 1 to March 1 I would gladly do so.

Go to sleep before the snow and cold comes and not wake up till it`s all melted away and the Temperature is above 40 degrees.

But because my family is still here in Cold CT, my children and grandchildren, and no one seems to dislike the Cold Weather as much as me, I guess I`ll just stick it out for a few more years..

I may still complain that I don`t like the Snow and Cold but they are HERE and so am I..

Our Online Famiy and Our Lives

Our blog here is a wonderful mix of good friends that all share a common goal. We share our personal and business lives with each other in friendship and support. Yes at times with many differences of opinion like a family would and this truly is our online family.

We all have so many personal things going on in our lives it is amazing we get any work done. The issue are unique to each of us but we all deal with things on a daily basis. We all do get an amazing amount of work done and I hope we will all be very productive in the year ahead.

So as you share this year with us and our lives and stories you will be meeting a very special group of online entrepreneurs

January is truly the month of new beginnings and goals for the months ahead.

Sellers Thoughts on New Years Eve

First let me start by wishing all of you following our blog “Happy New Year”

This is the end of our first year of the DSR Blog. I promise you a whole new year of exciting posts. We are a group of sellers connecting with you sharing our selling lives mixed with our real lives and our passion for the products we sell.

As you read this post it’s time for you get your game plan together for 2010. I have been thinking about my new goals and challenges since late 2009. The way we sold in the past is not the way of the future. We cannot become “comfy” and do it the old way. The rules keep changing in this new frontier. Embrace Ecommerce! The whole word is your customer.

Here is my favorite site for information - http://therivertheranchandthebay.com/

2009 was a juggling year for me. We are living between two homes 3 hours apart. My husband retired and everyday became a weekend. We were in one city today and another tomorrow. When he worked it was only weekends we were gone. Shipping schedules weren’t interrupted. Sundays Post Offices are closed. I believe in prompt shipping, thus my stores went on vacation every time I left town. Not great for biz. So 2009 dipped from 2008.

This year we will have two houses with inventory. Selling from two separate locations. I will be opening stores for my North Country House. I have already lugged many bins of stock up there to my huge attic. I’m very excited now that I have this part of my strategy figured out.

We are in the process of downsizing also and combining households as we care for my in-laws.

I have a full basement of inventory and it grows daily.

The next few months I will be power listing. I hate to see anything go to the trash that someone can use. There will be deals! I always have a Clearance section in my store. I’m a big recycler donating what I decide not to sell or give away. It’s a shame what goes to the dump, lost forever. (That’s another blog)

By sharing my thoughts I hope I got you thinking how you will proceed in this new decade.